How to Answer "What Did You Like Least About Your Internship?" in an Interview

Why do employers ask "What did you like least about your internship?"

As a job seeker, it's important to understand why employers ask certain questions during an interview. In the case of "What did you like least about your internship?", employers often ask this question to gauge how you handle difficult situations and to see if you can provide constructive feedback. It's important to note that the employer is not necessarily looking for a negative answer, but rather wants to see how you respond and handle criticism.

How to answer the question

Answering this question can be challenging, but it's important to stay positive and focus on the learning opportunity. Here are a few tips on how to effectively answer this question:

Choose a minor issue: Instead of discussing a major issue that you had during your internship, it's best to choose a minor issue that you were able to overcome or learn from. This shows the employer that you are able to handle challenges and come up with solutions.
Discuss the resolution: Instead of dwelling on the negative experience, focus on how you were able to overcome it or what you learned from it. This shows that you are proactive and able to take initiative to resolve problems.
Keep it brief: It's important to keep your answer brief and to the point. This shows that you are able to articulate your thoughts clearly and efficiently.

How to prepare for the question

To effectively answer this question in an interview, it's important to prepare in advance. Here are a few steps you can take to prepare:

Reflect on your internship: Take some time to reflect on your internship and think about any minor challenges or negative experiences you had. Choose one that you were able to overcome or learn from.
Practice your answer: Practice answering this question out loud to get a feel for how it sounds. Make sure to focus on the resolution and the learning opportunity.
Stay positive: It's important to stay positive and avoid dwelling on the negative experience. Keep the focus on the learning opportunity and how it helped you grow as a professional.

Common Mistakes

Dwelling on the negative experience: It's important to keep the focus on the learning opportunity and not dwell on the negative experience. Some interviewees may spend too much time discussing the negative aspects of their internship, which can be off-putting to the employer.
Being vague or unsure: It's important to be specific and articulate your thoughts when answering this question. Some interviewees may be vague or unsure about what they liked least about their internship, which can make it difficult for the employer to understand their perspective.
Being overly critical: While it's important to provide constructive feedback, it's also important to avoid being overly critical. Some interviewees may come across as too critical or negative when discussing their negative experiences, which can be a red flag to the employer.

Sample Answers

"One thing I liked least about my internship was the fact that I was not given as much independence as I would have liked. However, I was able to overcome this challenge by actively seeking out additional responsibilities and tasks to work on. This helped me to learn more and gain valuable experience, and I was eventually given more independence as a result."

"During my internship, I found it challenging to balance my workload with my school responsibilities. However, I was able to overcome this by creating a schedule and prioritizing my tasks. This helped me to better manage my time and be more efficient, and I learned valuable time management skills as a result."

"One thing I liked least about my internship was the lack of communication within the team. However, I was able to address this issue by bringing it to the attention of my supervisor and suggesting ways to improve communication. As a result, we were able to implement more effective communication practices and improve the overall efficiency of the team."